Arizona Rest Periods: What you need to know

Federal wage and hour law does not mandate that employees be given either paid or unpaid rest or meal periods. Whether breaks are required is left up to the states. Arizona has no general provisions requiring meal or rest periods, but it does have one law covering rest periods for railroad workers.

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U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division regulations do specify when work breaks that are provided, including meal periods, rest periods, and sleeping time, must be counted as work time subject to federal minimum wage and overtime requirements (29 CFR 785.18 through 785.23).

A company operating a railroad in Arizona may require only a conductor, engineer, fireman, brakeman, telegraph operator, or any other employee to work for a maximum of 16 consecutive hours, except in case of a casualty or actual necessity, without at least a 9-hour rest break (AZ Rev. Stat. Sec. 23-287).